Brewery of the Month, Denmark
‘Quality is key to everything we do’ Bryggeriet Frejdahl is a brewery based in Assens on Funen, Denmark’s second-largest island, specialising in premium craft of the highest quality. Their expertise in reviving ancient, traditional Nordic recipes and using them in a fresh context with top-end luxury ingredients makes them a strong player in an increasingly competitive market. Founded last year, their authentic product range is available in supermarkets, bars, restaurants and cafés around Denmark and is already proving highly popular. By Susan Hansen | Photos: Jim Lyngvild
Keen to bring together design, Nordic history and elements of Viking culture, acclaimed Danish fashion designer, Viking enthusiast and concept man Jim Lyngvild came up with an idea centred around craft beer. Denmark has an enviable global reputation for beer brewing, which can be as much of a help as a hindrance, and Lyngvild knew that his idea as well as the product had to be unique. Then renowned German brewmaster Christoph Behnke got involved, who works for Bryggeriet Vestfyen, one of Denmark’s leading breweries, which has been going strong since 1885. Dorthe Kildal Johannsen, one of the staff at Bryggeriet Frejdahl, believes 98 | Issue 92 | September 2016
that the secret to the company’s instant success and popularity is that they offer more than just any beer. “The average Mr and Mrs Jensen enjoy a treat, and a lot of people in Denmark have started to buy craft beer. People have begun to seek out distinct flavours and want good quality too.” Quality is one thing, price is another, and offering quality usually comes at a cost. But just because something looks expensive that does not mean that it needs to be; some of the brewery’s beers even come with a Champagnestyle corkscrew. Three of their products are organic and sourcing the best ingredients is key. Bryggeriet Frejdahl
uses local produce where possible and shops elsewhere for other ingredients; quality is what is important. Now the company is looking beyond Denmark. One such development is an exciting collaboration with Highland Park Whisky, based on the Orkney Islands. A brand new product, beautifully arranged in a box containing a beer and a bottle of whisky, will be launched in due course. So far the new beer adventure is going very well. If you ask Johannsen, the company has got off to a great start. “It has been a huge success so far and we are doing even better than expected. It is a big market and we are selling a lot of beer, and we are just grateful to have managed to get in there. Denmark has so many excellent breweries, which makes it an even greater achievement.”
For more information, please visit: www.frejdahl.dk